Council tax re-banding

A think I might’ve discussed this before on here but after watching Martin Lewis on his show about how many houses are in the wrong band it’s got me in the mood to contest mine again.

Has anyone on here contested? If so were you successful?

I’ve looked back on a email from the VAO last year and there’s a few clear discrepancies on how they’ve come to my band, as I don’t know the value of my house in 1991 I’ve used Nationwide’s house valuation calculator and it’s way lower down the band ratings than what it is now…..

We’ve been in our house over 6 year.

Just wondered if anyone on here has gone down this se avenue?

 

I did it when I moved in using the evidence of how ,uch a neighbouring property was sold for in the 1990s and had my band reduced. It's saved me a small fortune over the years

 

How does it work mate. I've looked and it appears it's based on 1991 valuations. Band A. up to £40k. Which in 2024 terms is equivalent to £117k. ?
Got to be honest. I thought each individual council set the bands for their own areas.

 

£40k in Barnsley I'm 1991 is around £160k now I believe

 

I did one of those forecast calculator things and it said ours should be Band D. As it’s currently C, I’m hoping none of our neighbours takes into their heads to contest our street and gets it raised for us all!

 

*fills in form to comtest council tax band on random street in west Yorkshire*

 

As a matter of interest does anyone know the price per annum difference between the bands?

 

I forget the length of time.

Unless it's changed you had to contest it within the first 12 months of owning it. Or summat like anyway

 

We bought our old house in 1995 for £38k, it sold in 2022 for £80k. I'd guess it wasn't in the best condition or had been converted to a HMO in the meantime.

 

I’m not too sure but ours is 3 bands higher than what it was in 1991, whilst the house has been modified so have others on the street and are a few bands lower than mine

 

Government set the bands.
Councils set the rise in Council tax up to the maximum.
If they want to go over the maximum, even by 0.01%, a referendum must be held in the Council Borough

 

Same here. Our house is in Band B rather than C by just £25 based on the 1991 valuation.

 

I believe if you have the relevant information to contest your able to submit your evidence to the VOA

 

Seems your right
https://www.gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band

I challenged a property successfully years ago, and at the time a timeframe was applicable. Strangely it does reference 6 months here, so who knows if that's actually still a thing

https://valuationoffice.blog.gov.uk/2023/02/03/council-tax-band-challenges/

 

A

 

I was saying the same to my mate yesterday.

 

One of the problems South Yorkshire has... unless things have changed....is that the Rating Office was in Sheffield, and based it's valuations on that City.

 

I’ve some problems with showing numbers when using my phone so …. sorry

 

Are you C3PO?

 

And here. We scrape in Band C by a narrow margin.